Report on the launch by Gary Bourlet

HFT and Tunstall have become partners in launching a big report on assistive technology and are now asking others to join as partners with them.

They are asking the government to work with organisations supporting people with Learning Disabilities to invest in using technology as part of support better.

The report says it could help the economy as well as making support better.

Read more → “Assistive Technology sector deal report launched”

Learning Disability England is part of a partnership of 4 organisations  looking into what things are getting in the way of people with a learning disability having their vital Annual Health Check. Current evidence already shows that these checks identify unmet health needs and reduce inequalities however, only 53% of people with a learning disability are having their Annual Health Check. The actual figure is known to be much higher as this only identifies those who are registered with their GP.

Read more → “Improving the Uptake of Annual Health Checks”

The North West Regional Self Advocates Forum has said they will host a national convention again in February 2020

This means 50 people from across England could join their regional conference and do work on national issues alongside their work on what is happening in the North West

Read more → “Next national self advocacy convention in 2020”

The National Institute of Health and Social Care Excellence (NICE) have published this month 2 quality standards directly related to the support of people with learning disabilities or autistic people.

Read more → “Quality Standards developed by NICE”

As part of our work, following the BBC Radio 4 programme on supported living, Learning Disability England asked organisational members what they are doing to ensure they learn from deaths and incidents.  The following blog is from L’Arche.

L’Arche is an international organisation that runs independent local communities. People with learning disabilities and non-disabled people live together within these communities. L’Arche support people in their own homes, run supported living as well as activities.

Kevin Coogan is a Registered Manager and community Leader at L’Arche Manchester. He has written a blog about what they do differently now since Joe died in hospital. Joe’s inquest was live tweeted & you can see examples of the media coverage here and here.

Read more → “Learning that leads to change”

My name is Danny, I’m 64 now and I have done a total of 22 year, 9 months in prison.  I wonder if you’re picturing a mean, tough guy, ready for a fight, and not much fun to be around?

That’s not me.  I’m small and wiry, softly spoken and am told I have a dry sense of humour.

I also have a learning disability which no one knew about back then.

The first time I went to prison was in my teens when I failed to pay a fine.  No one checked that I knew I had to pay, could write a cheque or organise my money.  I couldn’t do any of these things so I was arrested and put in prison.

Read more → “Does the criminal justice system treat disabled people fairly?”

Last week Gary Bourlet went to a big meeting about Ask Listen Do on behalf of Learning Disability England and our members. This is his blog on Ask Listen Do and why it matters

This a group of partners coming together. Working to improve NHS, Social Care and education.

It is about making feedback, and complaints easier for children, and adults with a learning disability, autistic people and their families and carers.

This started because people with learning disabilities and autism find it difficult to complain about the service they receive and do not report it.

So, it’s important that services can give a one to one approach.

Read more → “Ask Listen Do – what every service should do”

A capabilities statement for social workers has been launched

On 18^th June the British Association of Social Workers launched a capabilities statement for social workers who work with people with learning disabilities.

This statement explains all the things a social worker needs to be able to do to support people with learning disabilities.

At the same time, they launched a continuing professional development pathway for social workers working with people with learning disabilities

The capabilities statement is important because there has never been one before for social workers who work with people with learning disabilities.

Read more → “Social Work capabilities statement”

We have changed the jobs and how we work together in Learning Disability England to make sure we are doing what our members want us to do. That change is nearly finished now.

We have started our new roles and are recruiting for 2 new people to join the team.

Read more → “The staff team at Learning Disability England”

Self-advocacy is part of the answer – Blog by Gary Bourlet

We have been saying for too long never again for 10 and 20 years by different political parties. Policies are no good if they are not implemented.

There are laws implemented against Racism, sexism and homophobic, but not against disablism from my experience.
We do not need words, we need action.

We need to bring the abusers to court and punishment must fit the crime.

No more institutions in any name.

Read more → “Self Advocacy is part of the answer”